1
as in resolute
fully committed to achieving a goal
only a team with a decisive attitude is going to win a state championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conclusive
having the power to persuade
a lawyer who knows how to construct the kind of decisive argument that sways a jury
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in definitive
serving to put an end to all debate or questioning
the decisive finding of the coroner regarding the cause of death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decisive
However, the ruling socialist regime quickly disqualified her from running, fearing her overwhelming popularity would result in a decisive defeat for Maduro at the polls.
—
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Around the horn Georgia outlasted Arkansas in the biggest series of the weekend, winning the decisive Game 3, 7-6, on a walk-off home run by catcher Henry Hunter in the bottom of the 12th inning.
—Mitch Light, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Overall, this brief season feels largely transitional, as if its seven episodes were focused on carefully repurposing and maneuvering the plot toward what could be a decisive season 3.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Using this approach, if one looks narrowly at goods rather than services, China’s productive capacity is three times as large as that of the United States—a decisive advantage in military and technological competition—and exceeds that of the next nine countries combined.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decisive
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Around the horn Georgia outlasted Arkansas in the biggest series of the weekend, winning the decisive Game 3, 7-6, on a walk-off home run by catcher Henry Hunter in the bottom of the 12th inning.
—Mitch Light, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Overall, this brief season feels largely transitional, as if its seven episodes were focused on carefully repurposing and maneuvering the plot toward what could be a decisive season 3.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Using this approach, if one looks narrowly at goods rather than services, China’s productive capacity is three times as large as that of the United States—a decisive advantage in military and technological competition—and exceeds that of the next nine countries combined.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decisive
Adjective
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Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side In the big-screen adaptation of this true story, Sandra Bullock played Leigh Anne Tuohy, the resolute Southern mother who adopts teen Michael Oher.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
2 Mar. 2025
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Conscientiously addressing a national crisis of domestic abuse while also lunging for the heartstrings, the film is an uneven balance of grainy social realism and crowd-pleasing uplift, but Cruz’s resolute performance just about holds it together.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health concur that there is conclusive evidence that alcohol causes several types of cancer.—
Pranoti Mandrekar,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2025
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Anecdotes from such sources are, of course, far from conclusive.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Crypto Confidential: Forbes' definitive guide to crypto and blockchain, delivered to your inbox every Saturday.—
Azeem Khan,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Second, the destruction of the ring symbolizes the definitive end of the pontificate.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nick, now focused on his role as the heir to his grandfather’s empire, and Noah, just beginning to build her own career, are determined to keep their distance, despite their undeniable attraction and the past that connects them.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Is this morally corrupt crowd determined to ignore constitutional obligations rather than ever admit a mistake?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Spirit and Pride’s rivalry is quickly becoming one of the most compelling matchups in the league.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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Either way, there do not appear to be many other compelling paths for either Cargill or Naomi to take after WrestleMania 41 that don’t involve each other.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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According to the Journal, Ford last year shipped about 5,500 Broncos, F-150s, Mustangs and Navigators to China.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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The Detroit Tigers are off to a dream start after their fairy tale run to the American League playoffs last season.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Evolving Search Referring to Google user intent programming, Srinivas talked about how search is a fundamental service, and what that has meant for the industry.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Democrats were intent on making the effort as politically painful as possible, with action on some two dozen amendments to the package that GOP senators will have to defend before next year’s midterm elections.—
Time,
Time,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Daniel Farke’s side could not have been more convincing in their final push for the Premier League.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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Tonge is convincing in his conclusion that the religious orders are a permanent feature of Turkish politics and public life.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decisive. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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